Srinagar Court Denies Bail for Facebook Page Admin Accused of Modesty Offense; Orders Surrender Within 3 Days

Srinagar, Apr 28: The court in Srinagar has denied the bail application of Mudasir Aziz, a Facebook page admin, accused of outraging the modesty of a social worker. The court cited non-cooperation with the investigation and the severity of the charges against him as grounds for its decision.

Aziz had initially applied for bail under Section 438 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cr.P.C) and was granted interim bail on March 22, 2024. However, conditions included cooperation with the investigating officer (I/O) and staying within territorial limits without court permission.

Subsequent developments revealed a lack of cooperation from Aziz, as per the police report. Allegedly, he failed to present himself for interrogation and refused to disclose his seized cell phone’s password. Additionally, Aziz is accused of intimidating witnesses, hindering the investigation.

The court noted the gravity of the charges against Aziz, including offenses under sections 354, 341, 442, 506, and 392 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Particularly concerning was section 392, which carries a sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine.

Referring to a Supreme Court precedent, the court stressed the need to balance Aziz’s interests with those of the investigating agency, the complainant, and society.

Consequently, the Additional Sessions judge in an order concluded that Aziz violated the terms of his interim bail, allegedly attempting to outrage the modesty of the complainant and impeding the investigation. Bail was refused, and Aziz was directed to surrender within three days. The interim bail granted on March 22, 2024, was canceled.

Source: Kashmir Dot Com